Easter Eggs, hunts, and pie, oh my!

Celebrating Easter should be more fun than just hunting for confetti eggs. Here are some other fun and unique ways to join your friends and family for a day full of festivities:

Leave the food coloring in the pantry.

Egg-decorating kits are easy and get the job done, but let’s get in touch with our inner crafter and get creative. You can use the traditional boiled eggs, or use a pin to drain the egg for a longer-lasting craft. Additional suggestions include:

• Put clear, double-sided stickers found at any hobby store on your eggs, then sprinkle with glitter for shiny, fun designs.
• Cover a whole egg in glue and roll it in a bowl of glitter.
• Cut shapes out of tissue paper with scissors and a hole punch, and then glue them to the eggs. Place in a tiny cupcake liner for presentation.
• To create a delicious surprise, poke a hole in the bottom of an egg, then drain and sterilize by boiling. Once sterilized, set the eggs in an empty egg carton and fill with melted chocolate.

Take the family out for a rockin’ time.

Hunting for eggs on the White House lawn may not be a possibility, but hunting for eggs in an exotic wildlife park is completely doable.

• TGR Exotics, just north of Houston, hosts a Zoo Egg Hunt on April 19. Bring a picnic, and enjoy the view of lions and tigers. There will also be crafts for the little ones.
• The city of Grapevine will have its annual Easter egg hunt on April 12 at Nash Farm, a historic landmark that details the city’s heritage.
• Frisco’s Easter Eggstravaganza on April 5 includes 80,000 Easter eggs and three soccer fields.

Always check ahead of time to confirm times.

End your picnic on a sweet note.

Deviled-egg appetizers, iced tea, potato salad, and glazed ham are staples of many families’ Easter picnic. But what about dessert? Here’s a recipe for banana pudding pie that will make everyone shout, “Oh my stars!”

Ingredients:

• 2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
• 3 bananas, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 egg whites
• 1/4 cup white sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

The Pudding

In a medium saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups sugar with flour. Mix well, and stir in half the milk. Beat egg yolks and whisk into sugar mixture. Add remaining milk and butter or margarine. Place mixture over low heat and cook until thickened, stirring frequently, stirring in the vanilla extract.

The Pie

Line the bottom and sides of a pie plate with a layer of alternating vanilla wafers and banana slices. Pour half of pudding over vanilla wafer and banana layer while still warm. Make another layer of alternating vanilla wafers and banana slices on top of pudding layer. Pour remaining pudding over second wafer and banana layer.

The Meringue

In a large glass or metal bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, continuing to beat until whites are stiff. Spread meringue into pie pan, making sure to completely cover pudding layer.

Bake for 15 minutes, until meringue is just browned. Chill before serving.